The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 2 — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE OLD WEST “The few people who still lived in Moc- casin thought Hugh Adams had _ been’ drowned in the South Seas, and the nugget chain had been kept as a sort of proof of my identity in case it was ever necessary to be used for such a purpose. Wasn’t that splendid of Pa Bobbett? I can’t begin to tell you how many times the Bobbetts have been down to their last nickel, but zra never once thought of selling the chain. It is worth several hundred dollars, Judge Brand says.” ‘You say the matter isn’t finally settled yet,” said Reeves. ‘‘Seems to me it is plain enough. What doubts remain to be cleared up?” “IT don’t know, exactly,” answered the girl, puzzled. ‘“‘The judge just told us to keep quiet for a while, so that he may con- sider the matter further. Judge Brand is a wonderful man, Marty!” “I think so myself. But what is he doing here? What sort of connection is there be- tween him and Robbins? Why have the activities of the old camp been revived?” Reeves’s brow clouded. ‘‘It all seems like a foolish farce!’’ he added. “The judge didn’t tell us anything about that. Mr. Robbins warned us not to let the judge know. that we were merely play- ing Western parts for Mr. Castle.” Reeves laughed. ‘The judge is too sharp to be fooled very long,” he averred. “What does Judge Brand think, anyway? That all this crowd of Make-Believes has been gathered up hit and miss?” Lady Ann laughed, and patted his arm. “You are not a Make-Believe, Marty, anyhow,” she said. ‘You are the Tender- foot. And Ill not be a Make-Believe much longer, either. I shall be the wealthy Miss Lorena Adams. my money?” Her forehead puckered and her hazel eyes half-closed over the problem. ‘“‘T shall need somebody I can trust to tell me about that,” she finished. ‘Judge Brand would be a good man to advise,” Reeves suggested. She gave her head a little fling. “I wasn’t thinking of the judge,” she answered. ‘But I must go back; they'll be needing me at the Bazar. Suppose we ride back to camp together ?”’ He hesitated, thinking of Jim Rayner, but only fora moment. Then, side by side, they galloped into the gulch and on into the camp. ? And what am I to do with PER CONTRACT. 307 ‘““What’s going on, Marty?” asked Lady Ann. ‘There’s a crowd in front of the hotel, and Catamount Cal is talking from the seat of the old stage-coach.” Reeves had already taken note of the crowd and the coach, but he had heard of nothing scheduled for the forenoon that concerned itself with such a gathering. Although the four mules attached to the coach were fresh and restive, yet the hand on the “ribbons” held them firmly in check. Nor was it Catamount Cal’s hand—Reeves presently discovered that. “As I live, Lady Ann,” he exclaimed, “It’s Judge Brand on the box!” They turned out of the street at the side of the hotel, skirted the crowd’s edge and so came to the corral. Judge Brand was talking, but Reeves did not hear what he said. Rayner had his eyes on the returning riders, and there was a malevolence in his glance that held Reeves’s entire attention. Lady Ann must have seen the gambler, for a momentary cloud crossed her face and she looked anxiously at her companion. Reeves made no comments, but helped the girl from her horse. _Smedders was not around, so the mounts were left hitched to corral posts. Lady Ann proceeded at once to the Bazar while Reeves joined the little crowd of Forty- Niners. “TY want to load up this old coach with men of nerve,” the judge was saying. ‘“‘It’s a fine morning and I feel like taking a ride. But I want company. Ii there are four or five of you who are not altogether spineless, climb aboard and we'll be off. Who’s the first man to accept my invitation?” The Forty-Niners had seen just enough of the judge to be a little afraid of him. The fact that he had called for ‘“‘men of nerve’ as passengers, suggested hazards and worked on the wary spirits of the crowd. No one stepped forward. The judge’s face expressed derision and con- tempt. “Don’t all speak at once,” he went on mockingly; “I can’t use more than four or five of you. I’m eager to trim a few cor- ners on an old down-grade and this rattle- trap isn’t any too safe. If+-can’t get five men, how about four, or three?” An awed hush pervaded the crowd. No one spoke or stirred. “You're a fine bunch of Westerners I must say,” scoffed the judge, “a regular COPMICLOOOKS (E@)